The phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) protein is a key player in tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and was recently found to be inactivated by tripartite motif containing 25 (TRIM25)-mediated K63-linked polyubiquitination. However, the deubiquitinase (Dub) coordinate TRIM25 in PTEN ubiquitination is still elusive. In the present study, we found that this K63-linked polyubiquitination could be ablated by the ubiquitin-specific protease 10 (USP10) in a screen against a panel of Dubs. We found using coimmununoprecipitation/immunoblotting that USP10 interacted with PTEN and reduced the K63-linked polyubiquitination of PTEN mediated by TRIM25 in NSCLC cells. Moreover, USP10, but not its inactive C424A deubiquitinating mutant or other Dubs, abolished PTEN from K63-linked polyubiquitination mediated by TRIM25. In contrast to TRIM25, USP10 restored PTEN phosphatase activity and reduced the production of the secondary messenger phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate, thereby inhibiting AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin progrowth signaling transduction in NSCLC cells. Moreover, USP10 was downregulated in NSCLC cell lines and primary tissues, whereas TRIM25 was upregulated. Consistent with its molecular activity, re-expression of USP10 suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation and migration, whereas knockout of USP10 promoted NSCLC cell proliferation and migration. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that USP10 coordinates TRIM25 to modulate PTEN activity. Specifically, USP10 activates PTEN by preventing its K63-linked polyubiquitination mediated by TRIM25 and suppresses the AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting NSCLC proliferation, indicating that it may be a potential drug target for cancer treatment.

The deubiquitinase USP5 stabilizes c-Maf, a key transcription factor in multiple myeloma (MM), but the mechanisms and significance are unclear. In the present study, USP5 was found to interact with c-Maf and prevented it from degradation by decreasing its polyubiquitination level. Specifically, the 308th and 347th lysine residues in c-Maf were critical for USP5-mediated deubiquitination and stability. There are five key domains in the USP5 protein and subsequent studies revealed that the cryptic ZnF domain and the C-box domain interacted with c-Maf but the UBA1/UBA2 domain partly increased its stability. Notably, MafA and MafB are also members of the c-Maf family, however, USP5 failed to deubiquitinate MafA, suggesting its substrate specificity. In the functional studies, USP5 was found to promoted the transcriptional activity of c-Maf. Consistent with the high level of c-Maf protein in MM cells, USP5 was also highly expressed. When USP5 was knocked down, c-Maf underwent degradation. Interestingly, USP5 silence led to apoptosis of MM cells expressing c-Maf but not MM cells lacking c-Maf, indicating c-Maf is a key factor in USP5-mediated MM cell proliferation and survival. Consistent with this finding, WP1130, an inhibitor of several Dubs including USP5, suppressed the transcriptional activity of c-Maf and induced MM cell apoptosis. When c-Maf was overexpressed, WP1130-induced MM cell apoptosis was abolished. Taken together, these findings suggest that USP5 regulates c-Maf stability and MM cell survival. Targeting the USP5/c-Maf axis could be a potential strategy for MM treatment.

The Maf proteins, including c-Maf, MafA, and MafB, are critical transcription factors in myelomagenesis. Previous studies demonstrated that Maf proteins are processed by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway, but the mechanisms remain elusive. This study applied MS to identify MafB ubiquitination-associated proteins and found that the ubiquitin-specific protease USP7 was present in the MafB interactome. Moreover, USP7 also interacted with c-Maf and MafA and blocked their polyubiquitination and degradation. Consistently, knockdown of USP7 resulted in Maf protein degradation along with increased polyubiquitination levels. The action of USP7 thus promoted Maf transcriptional activity as evidenced by luciferase assays and by the up-regulation of the expression of Maf-modulated genes. Furthermore, USP7 was up-regulated in myeloma cells, and it was negatively associated with the survival of myeloma patients. USP7 promoted myeloma cell survival, and when it was inhibited by its specific inhibitor P5091, myeloma cell lines underwent apoptosis. These results therefore demonstrated that USP7 is a deubiquitinase of Maf proteins and promotes MM cell survival in association with Maf stability. Given the significance of USP7 and Maf proteins in myeloma genesis, targeting the USP7/Maf axle is a potential strategy to the precision therapy of MM.

We previously reported a PI3K inhibitor S14161 which displays a promising preclinical activity against multiple myeloma (MM) and leukemia, but the chiral structure and poor solubility prevent its further application. Six S14161 analogs were designed based on the structure–activity relationship; activity of the compounds in terms of cell death and inhibition of PI3K were analyzed by flow cytometry and Western blotting, respectively; anti-myeloma activity in vivo was performed on two independent xenograft models. Among the six analogs, BENC-511 was one of the most potent compounds which significantly inhibited PI3K activity and induced MM cell apoptosis. BENC-511 was able to inactivate PI3K and its downstream signals AKT, mTOR, p70S6K, and 4E-BP1 at 1 μM but had no effects on their total protein expression. Consistent with its effects on PI3K activity, BENC-511 induced MM cell apoptosis which was evidenced by the cleavage of Caspase-3 and PARP. Notably, addition of insulin-like growth factor 1 and interleukin-6, two important triggers for PI3K activation in MM cells, partly blocked BENC-511-induced MM cell death, which further demonstrated that PI3K signaling pathway was critical for the anti-myeloma activity of BENC-511. Moreover, BENC-511 also showed potent oral activity against myeloma in vivo. Oral administration of BENC-511 decreased tumor growth up to 80% within 3 weeks in two independent MM xenograft models at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight, but presented minimal toxicity. Suppression of BENC-511 on MM tumor growth was associated with decreased PI3K/AKT activity and increased cell apoptosis. Because of its potent anti-MM activity, low toxicity (LD₅₀ oral >1.5 g/kg), and easy synthesis, BENC-511 could be developed as a promising agent for the treatment of MM via suppressing the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.